Mayor Gainey’s planning director appointment is contrary to city code
The selection is, however, in line with past practice
Mayor Ed Gainey’s recent nomination of a director of city planning is in violation of the city code — but not of past mayoral practice.
Last week, Mr. Gainey announced that he was nominating Jamil Bey, a nonprofit founder and CEO, to the position. But according to city code, the members of the Planning Commission are tasked with choosing the next director.
Councilman Anthony Coghill’s chief of staff Blake Plavchak pointed out the discrepancy in an email sent to City Council members, Mr. Gainey and city Solicitor Krysia Kubiak.
“We recognize that this poses a problem in that Mayor Gainey has already announced an appointment for this post, but after reviewing the Home Rule Charter and other relevant portions of the municipal code, it appears that this appointment was made in a manner that is inconsistent with the law,” Mr. Plavchak wrote on behalf of Mr. Coghill.
The mayor’s chief of staff, Jake Wheatley, and Jake Pawlak, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, were also included on the list of recipients.
The Home Rule Charter states that the mayor appoints all heads of major departments mandated by the charter. The Department of City Planning is not mandated within the charter, and the Pittsburgh City Code outlines that the director should be chosen by the nine-member planning commission.
The mayor appoints the members of that commission.
“We want to alert everyone here to this issue and request that the City Planning Commission begins a process
The Home Rule Charter states that the mayor appoints all heads of major departments mandated by the charter. The Department of City Planning is not mandated within the charter, and the Pittsburgh City Code outlines that the director should be chosen by the nine-member planning commission.
of solicitation and review of potential candidates for the role of Director of City Planning,” the email said. “Thank you for your attention to this critical matter, we hope we can all work together to see a new Director of City Planning confirmed in a manner consistent with our city code.”
It’s unclear if the Planning Commission has begun that process; Chairwoman LaShawn Burton-Faulk and Vice Chairwoman Rachel O’Neill did not return requests for comment.
Mr. Coghill submitted legislation during Tuesday’s council meeting that would alter the city code to put the city planning function under the director rather than the commission, which would likely give the mayor the power to appoint the director, but details still have to be worked out by council. At the earliest, the legislation could be approved by midApril.
The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Bey is scheduled to begin as acting director on April 8, according to the city’s announcement last week. His appointment has yet to be approved by council members, and it is not at this time on either agenda for meetings this week. If approved, Mr. Bey will make about $125,000 a year.
After Mr. Gainey took office in 2022, he also appointed previous director Karen Abrams to the position. And he isn’t the first.
In 2020, then-Mayor Bill Peduto appointed Andrew Dash to the position, and before that he had nominated Raymond Gastil in 2014.
Even further back, former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl appointed Noor Ismail as his city planning director in 2007.
Mr. Bey is not new to city government. He currently serves on the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority board and the Housing Opportunity Fund Advisory board. He also founded the UrbanKind Institute, a research and advocacy group.
During Mr. Gainey’s first few months in office, Mr. Bey also worked as the co-chair for the infrastructure and environment committee of Mr. Gainey’s transition team.
“Jamil Bey brings a wealth of academic, professional, and lived experience to the Department of City Planning,” Mr. Gainey said in a statement last week. “He has been a strong advocate for our communities and the need for a citywide comprehensive plan and I look forward to working with him as he steps into this new role.”
In a post on the UrbanKind Institute website, Mr. Bey said that his appointment serves as a “reaffirmation” of the institute’s efforts.
Mr. Bey could not be reached directly for comment.